Self-loading and self-dumping vehicle



Sept. 9, 1952 J. w. DANIELS SELF-LOADING AND SELF-DUMPING VEHICLE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1949 Sept. 9, 1952 J. w. DANIELS SELF-LOADiNG AND SELF-DUMPING VEHICLE 6 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1949 INVENTOR.

J. W. DANIELS SELF-LOADING AND SELF-DUMPING VEHICLE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 9, 1952 Filed Aug. 19, 1949 Sept. 1952 J. w. DANIELS ELFLOADING AND SELF-DUMPING VEHICLE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 19, 1949 INVENTOR.

Sept. 9, 1952 J. w. DANIELS SELF-LOADING AND SELF-DUMPING VEHICLE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 19, 1949 IN VENTOR.

Sept. 9, 1952 J. w. DANIELS SELF-LOADING AND SELF-DUMPING VEHICLE Filed Aug. 19, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Sept. 9, 1952 sELr-noAmNe AND SELF-DUMPING VEHICLE I James Daniels, Fort Myers, Fla. Application August 19, 1949, Serial No. 111,201

21 Claims. (01. 214-78) i This inventionrelatesto self-loading and selfdumping vehicles having power operated means for digging or excavating bulk material from the ground and loading it into the vehicle and for dumping the material from the vehicle.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide vehicles such as auto trucks with various types of loading equipment, and inparticular with grab buckets of the clam shell type operated from swinging booms, derricks or cranes that are pivotally mounted on the vehicle body so that the grab bucket can be swung out horizontally and dropped at one side of the body, clo sed and elevated, and then swung back over the vehicle body and dumped therein. However, the multiplieity of controls and the complicated mechanism required for such operations'have made the vehicle too expensive in the first place and also difficult to operate, and have involved a permanent installation which interferes with the use of the truck for other purposes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide loading equipment of the grab bucket -type thatis simple and inexpensive and that can be mounted readily on ordemounted readily from the body of a dump truck or like vehicle so that the truck can be used either with or without the loading equipment and for any desired purpose.

Another object is to provide loading means of the above type in-which the loading operation takes place'automatically untiLthe truckbody is filled.

. Another object is to eliminate the use of horizontally swinging booms orcranes in connection with 1 such loading equipment.

. A further object is to utilize a single hoistdrum and cable for the dual purpose. of closingthe ing position. i l i Otherobjects of the invention will appear hereinafter as the description of the. invention .proceeds. i

One embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that said drawings are for purposes of illustration only .and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of. the inthe bucket between digging positionand dump- 2 vention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section, showing a dump truck body andloading apparatus embodying the invention with the bucket in digging position; I

Fig. 2 is a side view showing the bucket in dumping position;

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the dump body of the truck tilted to dumping position; i

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the chassis of the truck, with the dump body removed;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the bucket and its carrier frame;

Fig. 6 is a detail of a bucket-operated electric switch;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail views on the lines 1-1, 8--8 and 99 of Fi 4; i

Fig. 10 shows a hydraulic cushioning device for the bucket carrier;

Fig. 11 is a, wiring diagram of the operating controls;

, Fig. 12 is a partial side view of the truck showing a hydraulic means for adjustably controlling the dumping position of the grab bucket;

Figs. 13 and 14 are respectivelyiside and plan views of the hydraulic control means} Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate two difierent positions of the hydraulic valve and its operating means; and. l i i A Figs. 17 and 1 8 are diagrammatic views showing a suitable arrangementof the valve passages of the control valve. i i

The truck itself .may be of any suitable type, and as shown for purposes of example, it comprises a chassis or frame indicated generally at l, a drivers cab 2, and the usual driving means comprising an internal combustion engine 3,

clutch housing 4, transmission case 5, universal joint 6, drive shaft! and differential housing 8 for driving the rear wheels 9. It. will be understoodi'that the foregoing elements may be of any conventional type. The dump body In is carried by a supporting underframe comprising longitu dinal and transverse frame members II and I2,

respectively, and is mounted on the truck. for tiltng movement to the dumping position shown in Fig. 3 in any suitable manner, as by m'eansof pivot brackets l3 secured to the. chassis l and a pivot shaft l4 carried by the dumpb'ody and lrotatablein the brackets l3. i

1 The'grab bucket isc'arried' by a demountable carrier frame that is pivoted on thetruck to swing back'and forth in a vertical plane between a diggingposition near the groundat one "side of the dump body and a dumping position over the dump body. Preferably this frame is pivoted on the dump body and moves therewith to the tilted dumping position shown in Fig. 3, so as not to interfere with the tilting of the body or the dumping of its load, and the carrier axis is transverse to the dump body and located adjacent its rear end so that the digging position of the bucket is at the rear of the vehicle (Fig. 1). In the form shown, a carrier rock shaft l5 extends transversely under the dump body through suitable bearings on its frame H I2, the ends iii of the shaft being turned at right angles and terminating in extensions 11 of reduced diameter (Fig. 5). The carrier frame is generally U-shaped, comprising side members [8 the lower endsof which are hollow to telescope over the extensiOn's H, and the upper ends of which are connected by a cross piece 19. The sides of the carrier frame can be strengthened if necessary my suitable trusses 20. i

The carrier tends to swing downwardly and rearwardly by its own weight. to the approximately horizontal diggingposition shown in Fig. 1 in which the grab bucket carried thereby is dropped on the material to be loaded into the vehicle. The bucket is then closed and filled and the carrier is then swung upwardly as hereinafter described to an approximately vertical dumping position as shown=in' Fig. 2. As' the carrier approaches this position, it preferably engages suitable means which cushion and retard its final movement until the bucket has been dumped. For automatic operation, moreover,

means are provided to start the return movement i of the carrier and to swing it back past the veitical position far enough to insure that it will be carried downwardly by its own weight to the digging position. 'In'the form shown, both of these objects are accomplished by a compression spring 2! mounted in a casing 22 that is' secured to the chassis I in a position such that the spring is engaged and compressed by an arm 23' on the carrier rock shaft l5. In case the swinging movement of the arm 23 sho'uld conflict with the differential housing; 3, the arm itself can be shortened and provided with' an extension 24 pivoted thereon -at 25 When the carrier approaches dumping position, the extension drops in front of and contacts the end of the spring 2| after which the arm and the extension straighten intoline with each other as: shown in Fig. 2 and compress the spring. I I I Preferably the downward swinging movement of the carrier is also cushioned and retarded by suitable means which, in the formshown, comprise a hydraulic cylinder '26 pivoted at one end 2i on the tilting dump body, a piston 28;inovable in the cylinder (Fig; and a piston rod 29 extending out of the other end of the cylinder and pivoted at 3fl'between clevis arrnstl secured to the carrier' rock shaft 15. As the carrier descends, therefore, the piston rod 29 and the piston 28 are moved into the cylinder, the liquid therein passing through a small bleed passage 32 in the piston to retard and cushion the descending movement; Meanwhile a larger piston passage 33 is maintained closed by a suitable check valve such as the ball 3 However, when the carrier andthe filled bucket'thereon are being swung upwardlyv toward dumping position, the piston moves inthe cylinder in the opposite direction and the check valve 34 opens to permit relatively freejpassage of oil therethrough so'that the upward swinging movement is not hindered.

through anarc of approximately between digging position and dumping position. In the form shown, a bucket frame 35 has its ends pivotally mounted in bearings 36 on the side frame members I8 of the carrier, the axis of these bearings being substantially at right angles to the plane of swinging movement of the carrier. The twoparts 31 of the bucket itself are suspended from the bucket frame 35 by pairs of links 38 and are connected to each other by means of a common pivot shaft 39. The bucket hangs in the open position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 as the carrier swings downwardly and rearwardly to the digging position shown in Fig. 1 and the bucket is dropped on the material to, be excavated. The bucket is then closed through the material and filled by elevating the common-pivot shaft 39, preferably by means of two cables 40 passing around pulleys 4| on the pivot shaft and thence to brace bars 42 to which the ends ofthe cables are connected. I I

The cables 48 pass upwardly from the pulleys Al over a pulley -43 and under a pulley 44, the pulleys 43 and 46 being mounted betweensu'p ports 45 bridging the sides of the bucket frame 35. Thus it will lee-seen that a continuous pull on the ends of the cables EB first'closes the bucket and elevates its pivot shaft 33 up 'to the frame '35 while the bucket is in the digging position shown in Fig. 1 and thereafter swings the carrier 18 and the filled bucket upwardly and forwardly to the dumping position shown in Fig. 2. The tendency of the bucket-frame 35 to tilt in its bearings 35 due to the pull of the cables 49 around the pulley 43' is compensated by the opposite effect of the pull of these cables around thepulley 44, so that theframe r'emains approximately horizontal While the bucket is being closed and The cables 46 are pulled to close the bucket and swing the carrier upwardly by means of a-cable 46 which runs over a pulley 41 mounted between brackets l8 at thetop of an upright mast 49 located at the forward end of the dump body 10, the cable 16 running down the front of the mast to a power hoisting mechanism to be described hereinafter. When the s ame cable iii-and mast 49 are to be used to tilt the dump body [0 to the dumping position shown inFig. 3, the mast 49 is preferably mounted to tilt on a'transverse horizontal axis 50 so that a shorter mast can be used to obtain the maximum elevation of the front end of the dump body, It will be'seen that the cable 46 can be connected to the cables 48 for the purpose of closing the'bucketand swinging the carrier, and then disconnected therefrom and connected to the forward end of 'the dumpbody for the purpose of tilting i t to-dumping position. In order to avoid changing the connections of the cable, however, it preferably runs around a traveling block 5| to which the ends 'of'the cables 40 are connected, the lower reach 52'of the cable 36 running over a pulley 53 also mounted between the brackets 48 at the top of the mast and thence downthe front of the mast to an eye 5' 1 at the lower front endof the dump body l0. I

.In. closing the bucket in diggin position,the treveling block 5| ispulled away from thefbu-cket frame to the extent shown in Fig. 2, which con dition isthereafter maintained as the carrier and the closed and filled bucket swing upwardly to dumpingpositionr 'Meanwhile the'mast 49 tilts rearwardly about its axis 50 to engage against the front end of the dump body In, and suitable interlocking means are provided to prevent lifting the front end of the dump body. Inthe form shown, the reach of the cable which extends down the rear slide of the mast to the eye 54 passes betweencable guides 55. Plates or brackets 56 aresecured to theseguide's and'are-provided with holes arranged to be engaged by pins 5'! on a head board 58 on the vehicle bodyas illustrated in Fig. 1. Since the dump body is thus locked against tiltingmovement, the pull of the cable 46 is effective only to close the bucket and swing the carrier and filled bucket therewith to dumpingposition. However, the carrier can be-pulled forwardly beyond dumping position until the traveling block 5| moves into engagement with the brackets 48=at the tape! the mast as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Since the pull of the cable at this time is only that required to compress the spring 2|, the mast is also brought to an-uprig-ht position bysuitable resilient means such'as tension springs 59 interposed between the ends of arms 69 on thepivot shaft 59 of the mast andbrackets 6| on the vehicle chassis. Thus the pins 51 are disengaged from the brackets 56, and since thetraveling block 5| now becomes in effect a fixed pulley, the cable travels up the forward side of the mast, through the pulley system 41, 5| and 53, and down the rear side of the mast to the eye 54. Continued pull on th-e'cable is therefore effective only to elevate the front end of the dump body Hi, and as the tilting movement of the dump body proceeds, the mast 49 again tilts rearwardly as illustrated in Fig. 3 until the dump body reaches its fully tilted position and its contents are discharged.

The cable 46 is operated by a suitable. power hoist or winch which is driven by .the engine 3 in any suitable manner, preferably through gearing in the transmission 5 which is shiftable so 7 th'at the hoist canbe driven ahead or in reverse or placed in neutral. Power takeoffs of this type are well known in the art andtheir details are not illustrated herein. Hence the cable can be slacked off and hauled in under thecontrol of the driver to operate the bucket, carrier, and dump body as described above. For automatic loading, however, the power hoist is also equipped with an automatically operating clutch actuated in response to swinging movement of the carrier and bucket to release the hoist drum and the cable in dumping position and to re-engage the drum and cable with the power drive in digging fposi-tion. Such :asystem can be operated either automatically or under the control of the truck driver by means of automatic clutch controls adapted to be out in or'out at the will of the driver, as illustrated by the following descripmay be provided with any suitable type of brake "61 to hold it against rotation on the shaft 62 whenever desired. The jaw clutch members 64 sand 85 are normally urged into engagement by 6 means of -a suitable shiftingfork 68 and spring 69. Thus it will be seen that the cable 46 can be controlledby the driver. in the cab of the truck by shifting the transmission gearing and operating the usual clutch pedal I8. t For automatic control of the cable 46, suitable means are provided for disengaging'the clutch 64; 65 and releasing the cable 46 and the windingdrum 66 when the filled bucket reaches dumping position, and for re-engaging the clutch tojdrive the drum 66 and haul in the'cablen46 when the bucket again reachesdigging position. In the form shown, these automatic controls comprise-a vacuum system connected to themtake manifold of the engine 3; and an electro.-.- magnetically operatedvalve control for the vacuum system. A vacuumtank II is mounted on the vehicle chassis and i connected to the intake manifold by the line 12. The-tank is 3.1500011.- nected toa master-valve 13 operated by a handle 14 and a wire or cable 15 extending to a button 16 on the "dashboard of the cab. The master valve '13 is coupled through an elbow 1 1 with a straight section of pipe 19 having vacuumrelief openings 19 therein which are opened or closed according to the position of a surrounding mtatable-sleeve 80 having corresponding. openings 8|. The other end of the pipe section 18 is connected by a vacuum hose 82 with a diaphragm unit 83, the rod 84 of which has a pin 85 enga ing afork 86 in the end of the shifting member 7 68 so that the vacuum tends to. disengage the jaw clutch member 64, in opposition to the tary sleeve is actuated iniresponse toswinging movements of the carrier to digging and dumping positions. Preferably this actuation islaccomplished by electromagneticmeans such as the solenoids 9| and 92 which are connected byxlinks 93 and-94 respectively with a rock arm 95 secured to the rotary sleeve 80. Thesolenoids 9| and 92 are in turn controlled by switches actuated in response to swinging movement of the carrier. The engagement of the empty bucket with the material to be excavated is preferred to control the solenoid 9|, and Fig. Gshows a switch mechanism that can be used for this purpose. A

bracket 98 is secured to the bucket frame35 in any suitable manner as by welding, and carries a'suitable switch 91 adaptedto be closed by actuation of a protruding switch button 98. The bucket supporting link 39 has a pin 99 that is slidable vertically in a slot I99 in a bracket |9| secured to the bracket 96. When the bucket drops on the ground, the pin 99 is momentarily forced upwardly in the slot N10 to actuate the switch button 98 and close the switch 9TI which I in turn energizes the solenoid 9| and moves the sleeve counter-clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 9 to bring the. openings'Bl of the sleeve into registry with the openings I9 of the stationary part 18 and thus to break the vacuum. Accordingly the spring 69is effective to engage 'the'jaw clutch 64, 65 and the winding drum 66 is driven by the engine to "haul in the cable,

' pull of the vacuum diaphragm 83.

elosethe bucket and swing the carrier as described above. As a precaution, two or more switches 91 can be provided for actuation bydif ferentl'inks 3.9.. r

When the carrier and filledv bucket thereon swing; to dumping position as shown in Fig, 2, on the; other; hand, the arms 3 l-on the carrier rockshaft l5 engage the operating; member N12 or aswitch I03 which energizes the solenoid 92 and moves the1sleevemember 89 to the position shown.in-;.Fig. 9 in which the valve openings are .nolongeryinregistry so that vacuum is applied to the ,diaphragms 83 and 31. This has the of;

fectxof disconnecting, the winding drum 66, and

releasing cable 46 to dump the bucket and to allow; the carrier and the emptybucket to return .to digging position as described above. Thesec- .orrddiaphragm, 81 which operates the clutch pedal-.is-not. necessary in all cases; but is preferredwhen. the driving clutch of the hoisting drumisor the jaw type, which is: generally the case in order toinsure a positive drive. In such "cases the pull of the vacuum may not beeffective to disengage the jaw clutch parts while under strain. However, the operation of the clutch pedal disconnects the drive from theengine to the Jclutchpart 64;,and.-as:the carrier reaches its approximate vertical position, the springs 59 jerk the mast 49 upright and pull the carrier forwardlypast the vertical position, thereby creating mo mentarysla'ckj'in the'cable 43. Thus at this-in stant-all strain .on-"the clutch jaws 66,, 6'5 is removed and they are free to disengage under the r Fig. "11 shows a suitable wiring diagram. The circuit. is energized from the battery 104 from which-a wire Hi5 leads to a master switch Hi6 controlled byan arm 1-81 on the wire 75, so that the master valve 13 and themaster switch [66 are operated simultaneously from the buttonjflfi on the" dashboard. Solenoid -91 .is energized 7 througha wired-Wand a switchiljflfi operated by a relay HOV Solenoid 92 .is similarly energized through a wire! I l. anda switch 1 l2 operated by az relay H3. The relay H15 is;con-t;rolled by the bucket switches 91, and the "relay, H3 is controlledby the switch I03. In casexthe bucket switches -9'I are not closed for anyreasonan auxiliary switch 'I 14 may be located in the (-cab .Tfor actuation by the driver. j j

, The operation and use of the-apparatus may be describedbriefly as follows. As the truck drives .to the point at which itis to be loaded, the carrier is :preferably held by. the cable' i'tin the dotted linei-positionshown in Fig.- l; the :brakeGl being used .to-hold the windingdrum .66 if necessary. The; dIiVBlzbEl-CKS the truck up to the pileof materialito be loaded; cuts in the power takeoihand operates the button. 15 to open. the master valve l3randiclosefthemasterxswitch 1 05.. The -'carrier with the closedempty bucket thereon swings;for.- wardly to dumpingpositionat which the switch H13 zisiactuated and the clutchfififiiifi isrdisengaged. Thebucket thenfall's openand the carrier and empty bucketiswing back by-virtuecofthe spring 21 and theirown weightuntilthe open gbucket strikes the material to be-excavated in digging position. At this time one of the switches 91-is actuated to break the vacuum; whereupon: the clutch 64, 65 r e-engages and the drum 66 starts to haul in the cable 46. Ther-bucket is first closed, picking up a; load; after which the-carrier and the filled bucket are swung back upwardl-yto dumpingsPQsition. This cycle of operations continues automatically until the; dump body; 1-0 is r.

canic-pera'te the apparatus automatic controls.

filled. As the last bucket load swingsupwardly towarddumping position, the driver again operates. the button 16 to close the master valve and open the-master switch. The clutih '64, 65 .remains in engagement; however, and the carrier continues to swin upwardly to dumping position under the sole control-of theclutch pedal. When the desired dumping point has been reached, the driver depresses the clutch pedal, reverses the power takeofi, and then releases the clutch pedal and slacks oil the cablerapidlyto dump :the bucket. The carrier and the empty open bucket then start to swing back toward digging position, taking up the slack in the cable 46 as rapidly as it is paid 'out by operation of the winding drum,.until they reach a suitable transporting position such as that illustrated on dotted lines in Fig. 1. I The driverzthen reestablish idthe normal drive;from ;the engineto the wheels and drives away with the load to any desired point Where thematerial is to be clumped.

' Whenthe dumping point has been reached, the driver againcuts in the power takeoff in the hoisting. direction and pulls the traveling block 5| up, to thepositi'on; shown in dotted linesin Fig. 2; I Continued winding ofthe cable then lifts the front end of the dump body If) to the dumping v position shown inFig. 3 and its contentsare-discharged. The'power takeoff is then reversed to lower the" dump body Ito its normal position I and the reverse operation of the drum is continued to permit the carrier and the bucket to swing back to the desired transporting position. I It should be further noted that distributionof the load throughout the length of the dumpbody i0 can'becontrol'ledby the'driver through reg,- ulationof the speed of theengine. By depressing the accelerator pedal and speeding up the engine, the carrier; swings upward very rapidly and this effect, togetherwiththe effect of thesprin'gs -59, causesthe carrier to swing substantially past the vertical before the contents of .the 'bu'cket are dumped; .lflth'e engine is operated "slowly, on the other hand; the bucket willdump its'content's substantially in vthe position show-ninFig. 2.

' L; It will also be evidentthat if desired, the-driver without cutting the The loading apparatus can be removed simply ibydisconnecting-the cables 40 from the traveling block-t l and -lifting -the-carri er and bucket from the aextension 1 lot the rock shaft. Thecable t6 isthen wound up until the block 5| reaches the position shownin-dotted line in Fig. 2 and the truckbecomes anordinary dump truck. 1

' it some cases it may be 'preferableto provide ustablemeans: for positively limiting the fo. ward swinging movement of the bucket carrier in various positions so that load distribution can -be effected automatically andiwithou't regar'd'to the .speedcf operation of the carrier as described above. Such means can be provided in the form of ,a hydraulic control, associated with the'lhydrauliccylinder2B described above or with a similar cylinder, andadjustable .by the driver so. as tostop the movement of thecarrier at lthe desired dumping point. Thusthecontrol canlbe utilized-by the driyer tocause the bucket todump vin-any one of ;a number of dumping positions distributed longitudinally along the-dump body id By the addition of a 'pressure'source such as-a hydraulic pump, .rnoreover, -theflhydraulic :means -can be utilized to swing the ,carrier and empty bucket back past the vertical; position,

thus eliminating the use of: the compression spring 2|. I

Figs. 12-18 illustrate a suitable, hydraulic control embodying the'above features and settable by the operator to dump the bucket in either one of two positions, an aft dumpingposition in which ,the carrier is approximately vertical as shown in full lines in Fig. 12 and a forward dumping position such as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12. In the usual case, suflicient load distribution can be obtained without additional intermediate positions, although they can be provided if desired. As shown in these figures, the hydraulic control is associated with the cylinder 26 previously described, the dump truck, carrier frame, bucket, etc., being the same except that thespring 2| and its operating arm 23, 24 are omitted. a

As the carrier and the .filled bucket swing upwardly toward dumpingposition, the hydraulic fluid is forced out of the left-hand end of the cylinder through a pipe I I5 which leads to a hydraulic control valve II6 to be described hereinafter. From the valve unit I I 6,.a return pipe I I1 leads to the right-hand end of the cylinder. A hydraulic pump H8 is driven by suitable means such as a pulley II 9, the pressure side of the pump being connected tothe valve unit II6 by a pipe I20 and the suction side of the pump being connected thereto by a pipe I2I. The valve. is provided with suitable passages so that while the carrier is swinging upwardly toward dumping and bucket shifts the valve unit so as toclosethe by-pass between the ends of the cylinder and connect the pipe I20 withthe pipe H5 and the pipe I2I with the pipe I I6." Pump pressure is then appliedto theleft-hand end of the cylinder, forcing the piston28 in the opposite direction and swinging the carrier back up to the vertical position, the,liquid from the right-hand end of the cylinder meanwhile exhausting to the pump 'suction. Thereafter the carrierand bucket descend .to digging positionby their own weight, and: hence the valve unit can be shifted back to its original position ready for the next operation.

. Any suitable type of valve can-be employed for the-above purposes; In the form shown by way of examplalthe unit I I6 comprisesa casing which ismounted on thechassis I,: and a rotary valve body I22 operated by anarm; I23 to shift the valve between its normal position and-its carrier-stoppingand returning position as described above, these positions being determined by stops I24 limiting the throw of {the arm I23. The arrangement 'of-the valve passages canbe varied asdesired, depending on the location of the connections to "thevalve unit, the. throw of the valve, etc. For example, one end of the rotary valve plug may be provided with a passage I25 (Fig. 17) connecting the pipes H5 and I I! and with a similar passage I26 connecting the pipes I20 and I2I when the valve unit is in normal position. The other end of the rotary valve plug may likewise be provided (Fig. 18) with a passage I21 connecting the pipes I I5 and I20 and with a similar passage I28 connecting the pipes I11 and I2I when the valve unit is in its stopping position.

10 The ports of the passages I25 and I26 are offset circumferentially with respect to the ports of the passages I21 and I28 by an amount equal to the throw of the valve. The pipes II 5, H1, I20 and I2I each leadinto an axial groove I29 in the casing I I6 whichis of sufficient extent to register with the ports of the valve passages at both ends of the plug.

In order to. adjust the position at which the carrier is stopped and the bucket is dumped, the operator is provided with means for effecting relative adjustment between the normal position ofthe valve operating arm I23. and the part of the swinging carrier frame which engages the arm to shift the valve unit. Various means can be employed for this purpose, and the drawings show by way of example a double cam I30 mounted on and rotating with the carrier shaft I5 but capable of longitudinal sliding movement thereon relative to the arm I23 by virtue of a key I3I. The cam is normally maintained" in the position shown in Figs. 14 and 15 by means of a spring I32, but can be shifted by a pivoted lever I33 operated by a Bowden wire I34 or thelike which preferably, extends to a point in the cab where it is conveniently accessible to the driver. Where only two dumping positions are desired, the cam has only two sides which may be made separately and secured together in any suitable manner. One side of the cam is formed with a notch having an approximately radial edge I35 that is adapted to engage the arm I23 and shift the valve from its normal position to the position shown in Fig. 15. The cam is set so that this engagement first takes place just as or slightly before the carrier reachesthe vertical position in its upward swing. At this point the springs 59 take control of the carrier and start to swing it rapidly forward, but the shift of the valve to the position illustrated by Fig. 18 takes place simultaneously so thatthe carrier is brought to a stop in the dumping position shown in full lines in Fig. 12. At the same time the cable is slacked off as described above and the bucket is dumped. Meanwhile the pump pressure builds up and. takes ,over'the control of the carrier, swinging it and the empty bucket back to and preferably slightly past the vertical. I

'The reversal of movement of the carrier also reverses the movement, of the cam I30 so that the edge J35 moves away from the valve arm I23. As the carrier reaches the desired point in its returnmovement, however, an incline I36 on the edge of thecam engages the arm I23 and swings it and the valve unit back to normal position inwhi c h; the cylinder 26 and the pump II8 are by-passed through the passages I25 and I26 respectively asshown in Fig. 17. Thereafter the carrier and bucket continue to descend by gravity, the end of the valve arm I24 being now located outside the circumference of the cam circle I31 so that the valve is not disturbed until the edge valve is not shifted to stopping position until the carrier has swung forwardly to the desired dumping position. On the return movement of the carrier; however, the valve remains shifted until the carrier has swung back to or slightly past the vertical, the location of the incline I36 being the same on both sides of the cam.

' In practice, the driver can fill either the front end of the dump body first'or the rear end, or can dump the bucket at will in either position simply by controlling the position of the cam by means of the operating member I34.

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the examples described in detail above and illustrated in the drawings but is capable of various other embodiments, and also that various changes can be made by those skilled in the art in theform,-details of construction, and arrangement of the parts, all without depart- .ing from the spirit of the invention. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is: Y i

1. A self-loading vehicle comprising a swinging carrier pivoted on the vehicle on a transverse horizontal axis for oscillation between a digging position at the rear of the vehicle and a dumping position above the vehicle body, a grab bucket on said carrier and swinga-ble therewith between said positions, a cable for closing said bucket in said digging position and then swinging said carrier and the filled bucket to said dumping position, a source of power and means operated thereby for hauling in said cable, control means for said power operated means comprising a vacuum-operated clutch and Vacuum-controlling electromagnetically operated valve means for said clutch, and two switches for energizing said electromagnetically operated'valve means, said valve means being movable to one position in which said clutch is engaged and to another position in which said clutch is disengaged, one of said; switches being actuated by movement of said carrier to digging position for moving said valve means to said one position, the other switch being actuated by movement of said carrier to dumping position for moving said valve means to said other position.

2. A self-loading vehicle as defined in claim 1,

including an auxiliary manually operable switch for moving said valve means to said one position. "3. A self-loading vehicle comprising a swinging carrier pivoted on the vehicles on a transverse horizontal axis for oscillation between a digging I position at the rear of the vehicle and a dumping position above the vehicle body, a grab bucket on said carrier and swingable therewith between said positions, a cable for closing said bucket in said digging position and then swinging said carrier and the filled bucket to said dumping position, a source of power and means operated thereby for hauling in said cable, and control means for said power operated means comprising a vacuum-operated clutch and valve means actuated by swinging movement of said carrier to said two positions for controlling the vacuum to operate said clutch, said valve means comprising a vacuum conduit having an opening therein and a valve member movable to a position inwhich said opening is closed and to. another position in which said opening is in communication with the atmosphere.

4. A self-loading vehicle as defined in claim 3, including electromagnetic operating means for said valve member, and two switches for energizing said electromagnetic means, one of said switches being actuated by movement of said carrier to digging positionand the other by movement of said carrier to dumping position.

5. A self-loading vehicle comprising a swinging carrier pivoted on the vehicle on a horizontal axis and rotatable on said axis betweena digging position near the ground and a dumping position over the vehicle body, a frame pivoted onsaid carrier on a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the carrier axis, a grab bucket suspended'from said frame andcomprising two parts p'ivotally connected together with their pivotal axis substantially at right angles to theframeiax'is, and power means on said vehicle including a cable for elevating the pivotal connection of said bucket parts to said frame to close said bucket and thereafter swinging the closed bucket and the frame and carrier upwardly to said dumping position by continuous pull on said cable, said bucket opening to dump its contents when said cable is slackedofi, said frame having asu-pport thereon, a pulley on said support, said cable running oversa-id pulley and down tosaid bucket, and a second pulley on said support in line with thereach of the cable from said first pulley to said power means, said reach running under said second pulley to maintain said franiesubstantially horizontal as said carrier swings between said two positions. a V

6. A self-loading vehicle comprising a swinging carrier pivoted on the vehicle on a horizontal axis and rotatable on said axis between a digging position near thegr'oundand a dumping position over the vehicle body, a frame pivoted on said carrier on a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the carrier axis, a grab'bucket suspended from said frame and comprising two parts pivotally connected together with the axis of their pivotal connection substantially at right angles to the frame axis, power means on said vehicle including a cable for elevating the pivotal connection of said parts to said frame to close saidfbucket and thereafter swinging the filled bucket'and the frame and carrier upwardlyfto said dumping position by continuous pull on said cable, said bucket opening to dump its contents when said cable is slacked off, and control means for said power means and actuated by swinging movement of said carrier to digging position for hauling in said cable and by swinging movement of said carrier to dumping position for slacking off said cable, and means for returning said car rier to digging position when said cable is slacked off.

7. A self-loading vehicle comprising a swinging carrier pivoted on'the vehicle'on a transverse horizontal axis foroscillation between a digging position at the rear of the'vehicle and a dumping position above the vehicle body, a grab bucket on said carrier and swingable therewith between said positions, power means on said vehicle, and means operated by said power means for closing said bucket in digging position and then swinging said carrier and the filled bucket upwardly to clumping position comprising an elevatedmast mounted on the vehicle forwardly of said body, a cable operated by said power means and running over the top of said mast, a traveling block connected to said bucket, a pulley on said mast, said cable running from the top of the mast around said block, back to and over said pulley, and down to the forward end of said vehicle body, and means retaining the forward end of said body .against elevation during operation of said power means to load said vehicle body, said cable releasing :means and said retaining means being disconnectable whereby said power means and cable maybe utilized todump said vehicle body.

8. A self-loading vehicle as definedin claim 'l, said mastlbeing pivoted to tilt rearwardly' towardsaid vehicle body, interlocking means on said mast andbody adapted to engage when said mast is tilted to retain said body against elevation, and resilient means maintaining said mast upright when said block, carrier and empty bucket are pulled forwardly to dump said vehicle body. 1

9. A self-loading vehicle comprising a swinging carrier pivoted on the vehicle on a transverse horizontal axis for oscillation between a digging position at the rear of the vehicle and a dumping position above the vehicle body, a grab bucket on said carrier and swingable therewith between said positions, power means on said vehicle, and means operated by said power means for closing said bucket in digging position and then swinging said carrier and the filled bucket upwardly to dumping position comprising an elevated mast pivotally mounted on said vehicle to tilt rearwardly toward said vehicle body, a cable operated by said power means and running over the top of the mast whereby the latter is tilted as said carrier and the filled bucket swing upwardly, resilient means tending to maintain said mast upright and assisting the swinging of said carrier to dumping position, means operated by swinging movement of said carrier to said dumping position for releasing said cable to dump said bucket, and resilient means engaged by said carrier as it approaches dumping position for starting the return movement of said carrier when the cable is slacked off by operation of said cable releasing means.

10. A self-loading vehicle as defined in claim 9, said cable releasing means comprising a winding drum for said cable and a clutch connecting said drum to said power means, clutch disengaging means, and an electrical control circuit for said clutch disengaging means including a switch closed by said carrier as it swings to dumping position.

11. A self-loading vehicle as defined in claim 9, including hydraulic means for cushioning the return movement of said carrier to digging position.

12. A self-loading vehicle comprising a swinging carrier pivoted on the vehicle on a transverse horizontal axis for oscillation between a digging position at the rear of the vehicle and an approximately vertical dumping position above the vehicle body, resilient means tending to return said carrier from dumping position toward digging position, a grab bucket on said carrier and swingable therewith between said positions, a mast pivoted on said vehicle to tilt rearwardly toward said carrier, a cable running over said mast and connected to said bucket, means for hauling in said cable to close said bucket in digging position and then to swing the filled bucket and carrier to dumping position, said mast tilting rearwardly under the strain of the cable, springs operative as said carrier approaches dumping position to restore said mast to upright position and pull said carrier suddenly to dumping position, thereby momentarily slacking said cable, and means for releasing said cable hauling means during the slack period of said cable whereby the bucket opens due to the weight of its load and the carrier is swung back toward digging position by said resilient means.

13. A self-loading vehicle as defined in claim 12, said releasing means comprising a clutch for driving said hauling means and; means actuated by swinging movement of said carrier to dumping positionfor releasing'said clutchf 14. A self-loading vehicle'as 'de'fined'in claim 13-, including means actuated by swinging movement of said carrier to digging position for reengaging said clutch. 1 15. A self-loading, vehicle as defined in claim 14, said clutch being of the jaw type and having means normally maintaining the clutch jaws in engagement,vacuum-operated means for disen gaging the clutch jaws, vacuum-controlling valve means, means actuated by swinging movement off said" carrier to digging position for; moving said valve ineans-to a position in which the vacuum is broken, and means actuated by swinging movement of said carrier to dumping position for moving said valve means to a position in which vacuum is applied to said vacuum-operated means.

16. A self-loading vehicle as defined in claim 15, said valve-moving means being electromagnetic and having two control switches one closed by movement of said carrier to digging position and the other by movement of said carrier to dumping position.

17. A self-loading vehicle comprising a swinging carrier pivoted on the vehicle on a transverse horizontal axis for oscillation between a digging position at the rear of the vehicle and a dumping position above the vehicle body, a grab bucket on said carrier and swingable therewith between said positions, a cable for closing said bucket in said digging position and then swinging said carrier and the filled bucket to said dumping posi- 1 tion, source of power and means operated thereby for hauling in said cable, control means actuated by swinging movement of said carrier to said two positions for connecting said means to and disconnecting it from said source of power and "thereby hauling in and slacking off said cable, and means for stopping the swinging movement of said carrier to dumping position comprising a hydraulic device having a control valve shiftable from normal position to a position in which said device opposes further swinging movement of said carrier and valve-operating means movable with said carrier for engaging and shifting said valve when the carrier reaches dumping position.

18. A self-loading vehicle as defined in claim 17, including manually settable means for adjusting the positions of said valve and valve-operating means relative to one another, thereby adjsting the point at which said carrier is stopped.

19. A self-loading vehicle as defined in claim 17, said hydraulic device comprising a cylinder and piston one of which is connected to said carrier and the other to the vehicle body, and a by-pass connecting the ends of the cylinder, said valve controlling said by-pass and being shiftable to a position in which said by-pass is closed to stop said carrier.

20. A self-loading vehicle as defined in claim 19, including means for moving said carrier back from dumping position toward digging position, and means movable with said carrier for shifting said valve to its original position at a predetermined point in the return movement of said carrier.

21. A self-loading vehicle as defined in claim 20, said means for moving said carrier back from dumping position comprising a hydraulic pump having its pressure and suction sides connected Name Date Folberth et a1. Nov. 1, 1938 Evelev Jan. 14, 1941 Nickles et a1. Aug. 26, 1941 Day July 18, 1944 Shoemaker Oct. 30, 1945 Gorton Dec. 25, 1945 Davenport ,1 Jan. 22, 1946 Beeler May 9, 1950 Rueter Nov. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Mar. 17, 1923 

